Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Miles Coleman succumbed to injuries sustained four days earlier when he and another deputy were beaten by brothers of a prisoner they were transporting.
The brothers attacked the deputies with clubs and brass knuckles and severely beat them both. The other deputy recovered from his injuries.
All three brothers were arrested and convicted of Deputy Coleman's murder. Two were sentenced to life and the other to 20 years. One lifer along with another inmate escaped from prison on December 7, 1908.
Deputy Coleman was survived by his wife and three children.
Survivors
Deputy Coleman was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-0121B084- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Coleman served with the Alexander County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Cairo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Coleman.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Miles Coleman is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.
In IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 63.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Alexander County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Miles Coleman's cause is highlighted.
How Miles Coleman Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Miles Coleman is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Miles Coleman was killed by blunt object.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Alexander County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
